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22

Grey Currawong

(Strepera versicolor)
Alternate name(s): "Grey Crow-shrike", "Grey Magpie", "Bell Magpie*", "Grey Bell-magpie", "Rain-bird*", "Squeaker*"
Click here for more names
Aboriginal name(s): "cur-ow-ung*" [awaba], "kirriwong*" [birbai], "wati-eri" [ramindjeri], "kiling-kildi" (lower Murray), "koolardi"; Race "plumbea": "djilok", "bela", "bali", "bil", "djabin" (WA)

Size: 44-57 cm; wing span 75-80 cm
Weight: 350 g (average); race "arguta" up to 440 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Grey Currawong at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "versicolor"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]

Frontal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]

Dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Morass Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2015]

Race "plumbea"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Partly obscured lateral view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, December 2014]

Lateral portrait of a Grey Currawong hiding in darkness (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, December 2014]

Race "arguta"

This race is also called the "Clinking Currawong".

ADULT

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, April 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, April 2021]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Lateral view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, April 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, April 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, September 2021]

Grey Currawong in low flight, displaying the characteristic pattern with grey-streaked and grey-tipped flight feathers (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Direct comparison of a Grey Currawong, front, with a Forest Raven, back (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Murrell Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]

Race "halmaturina"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[American River, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]

Food, Diet

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong swallowing what looks like a dry pellet (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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